Eating Disorder Screening in Transgender Youth

J Adolesc Health. 2019 Dec;65(6):815-817. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2019.06.011. Epub 2019 Sep 7.

Abstract

Purpose: Body dissatisfaction in transgender youth (TY) may increase the risk for eating disorders. This is the first study using the Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) to assess for eating disorder psychopathology in TY.

Methods: Youth aged 13-22 years (n = 106) presenting to a gender clinic from January 2018 to January 2019 completed the EDE-Q and answered questions on weight manipulation for gender-affirming purposes.

Results: Respondents identified as transmasculine (61%), transfeminine (28%), or nonbinary (11%). Mean age was 16.5 years (standard deviation = 2.0), mean weight was 119.9% median body mass index (standard deviation = 32.9), and 32% were on hormonal therapy. Of the participants, 15% had elevated EDE-Q scores. Most (63%) disclosed weight manipulation for gender-affirming purposes, with 11% of assigned females doing so for menstrual suppression. These behaviors had poor concordance with elevated EDE-Q scores (κ = .137 and .148).

Conclusions: Disordered eating behaviors are relatively common among TY. Further studies are needed to validate the EDE-Q in TY and establish meaningful cutoff score values.

Keywords: Disordered eating; Eating disorders; Transgender.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Body Dissatisfaction / psychology*
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Screening*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Transgender Persons*